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Hi I'm Daniel

I was born and raised in Ohio. I joined the Church when I was 17. I'm the only member of my family. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

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I am a 33 year old man married to a beautiful woman. She is a High School English and Art History teacher. I work at the world's premier archery manufacturer as the Environmental, Health, and Safety Manager while also working to complete my Master's Degree in Environmental Health Management.
I was born in Ohio to a family with strong work ethics but limited religious or spiritual connection. I was introduced to the Church when I was 17 and joined after only a few months of my association. Because I was not born Mormon, I know what life is like outside of the Church. I am also the only member of the Church in my family and most of my good friends in Ohio are not members either.
I served a mission from 2006-2008 in the Georgia Macon Mission, covering the lower half of the state of Georgia. Shortly thereafter I moved from Ohio to Utah. The church culture is different in Utah compared to the rest of the world, but the gospel is the same and it's true.
I love to spend time with my wife and our dog, a weimaraner named Piper. I like home-improvement projects, playing softball and tennis, running and watching most sports. We enjoy watching TV shows and Movies together and playing games.

Why I am a Mormon

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To put it simply and as straight forward as I can, I'm Mormon because I believe in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I believe he established His gospel when he was on the earth, that was facilitated, administered and distributed through one and only one church, His Church. That Church was lost to the world due to shifting beliefs and ultimately a lack of the Priesthood authority that is required to govern and direct the Church. Because of those shifting beliefs, a lot of confusion regarding doctrine, sacraments and principles were altered or lost entirely.
I'm a Mormon because in all of that confusion, the doctrines taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the only doctrines that cleared up that confusion for me. When I had a question, I felt confident that I could ask it and get an answer. That fact has been true time and time again for me. I've never been given the "well, you should pray about it" or "that's a personal matter" or any other vague answers related to specific and deep questions regarding religion. From my first meeting with the missionaries to my only missionary experience, if I've had a question, I've been able to ask it of my Priesthood leaders and I've been given a clear and direct answer founded upon the scriptures.
When the doctrines of the gospel are truely understood, everything becomes clear, life has a purpose and confusion is dispelled.

How I live my faith

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The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not a Sundays, Easter and Christmas only affair. The Gospel must be lived each and every day, with the most basic steps being daily prayer, as well as scripture study and a constant rememberance of our Savior Jesus Christ. That daily prayer should include sincere repentance of past mistakes and sins.
I do what I can to be the best disciple of Jesus Christ that I can each day. I strive to remember the principles taught in the Gospel and to live them each day, forgiving others and developing Christlike attributes of faith, charity and patience. While it is a daily struggle, that struggle is expected and supported by the gospel until we, little by litte, become better, more developed disciples of our Savior.

Who wrote the Book of Mormon?

Daniel

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The Book of Mormon is an ancient record of scripture similar to the Bible. Just as the BIble was written by men of God, so too was the Book of Mormon. These men, often called to be Prophets, lived on the American continent, while the Bible was written on the Europe/Asian continent. Since there were people on both continents, with no means of communication, God established Prophets in both places to lead and direct His people He did so out of love for His people.
The teachings and writings of the men on the American continent were recorded on metal plates, which could be preserved for a very long period of time. On these plates, the men recorded important teachings for OUR time and OUR generation. Being Prophets, these men were informed by the Lord that the Book would not come forth until the latter days. As stated by the Prophet Nephi in 1Nephi 1:2, the writings were in "the language of my father [Lehi], which consists of the learning of the Jews [Hebrew] and the language of the Egyptians." These plates were presented to the Prophet Joseph Smith who, thru the gift and power of god, translated that ancient language, Hebrew and reformed Egyptian, into the English language that we have today.Show moreShow less

Who founded Mormonism and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Daniel

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The Church was started and founded by Joseph Smith. Through a divine manifestation in the year 1820, Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. In that "First Vision", as it's called today, Joseph was informed that all the churchs on the earth were wrong, that they had a form or portion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that the Savior set forth and taught during His mortal ministry, but that they were all changed or corrupted in some form. More important than missing knowledge of principles of the gospel was the missing Priesthood authority to act in the name of God. Joseph was informed that the Church of Jesus Christ was not found on the earth and he was commanded that he should join none of the churchs that were at that time established.
Through subsequent revelations, Joseph was chosen to be a Prophet of God and instructed to restore or re-form the Church of Jesus Christ back on the earth. The portion of the title, 'of Latter-day Saints', is to distinguish the Church today from the Church during Jesus' ministry, but they are one in the same, teaching the same truths, doctrines and principles with the same Priesthood authority, which was restored to the earth to the Prophet Joseph Smith.Show moreShow less

What does Mormonism teach regarding baptism?

Daniel

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Baptism is the first and an essential Ordinance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The first principles and ordinances of the gospel are 1. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, 2. Repentance, 3. Baptism by Immersion for the remission of sins & 4. Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost (which comes only after Baptism).
Baptism is performed by one having the restored Priesthood authority and is done in the pattern that was set by Jesus when he was baptized by John the Baptist. Matthew 3:16 says "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water." He could not come 'out of the water' if he was not first in the water. This scripture shows a baptism in water.
Being immersed (fully under the water) is symbolic of a death and burial of your old ways and old self, when put under the water, and then a rebirth of your new self as a disciple of the Savior Jesus Christ, when you are brought up out of the water.
When you are baptized, you make a covenant, or promise with the Lord that you take upon you His name, will always remember Him, strive to keep His commandments, and help carry the burden of your fellow man. If you do those things, He makes a promise to you as well, that your sins will be washed clean and that you will have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.
Baptism is the gate to the strait and narrow path that to be taken in the Gospel. It is only your first steps in the Gospel.Show moreShow less

Can you tell me about Mormon customs: how you dress for church, what holidays you celebrate, etc.?

Daniel

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Mormons celebrate all of the usual Christian holidays, such as Easter and Christmas. We also celebrate other cultural and patriotic holidays (in the US they include Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc.) Mormons also often have celebrations to honor Church pioneers and others that went before us. July 24 is known as Pioneer Day and is a big celebration for many Mormons. Pioneer Day celebrates the day the Saints arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. We also often recognize Joseph Smith's birthday to honor the man that helped restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ.Show moreShow less

How can I know Mormonism is true?

Daniel

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There are many ways to know if Mormonism is true. You can attend Church services and listen to the testimonies of others that believe in the Gospel. When you do this, pay special attention to the feelings that you have as you attend and listen. Good, simple, peaceful feelings come from the Holy Ghost as a confirmation that what you are hearing and doing is true and good.
The best way, however, is to read the Book of Mormon and to follow the promise made in Moroni 10:3-5, which is to ask of God. If you read with a real desire to know if it is true, and then pray about your thoughts and feeling and as God if the book is true, He will answer you. When you get an answer that the Book of Mormon is true, than the man that brought it forth, Joseph Smith, was a true Prophet of Jesus Christ. If he was a true Prophet, than the Church that he was directed to establish must be the true Church.Show moreShow less

She didn’t expect it to resonate with her culture, but Nadia Deskins recognized divine principles in the Book of Mormon. She realized that God’s love has always been the same—and that her life never would be again.

Deep down she knew God was there, but a lifestyle of drugs and alcohol prevented Elaine from feeling His presence. Turns out, when she chose to repent, she discovered that the desire to become better takes practice too.